We are writing to ask that you join us in voting for Jon Kaiman for Town Supervisor on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Like all municipalities, the Town of North Hempstead faces major challenges:  How to nurture our local businesses and promote vibrant downtowns?

How to protect our waterfront environment and promote climate resiliency? How to foster a community that is welcoming and affordable, but also fiscally responsible and sustainable?

The people of North Hempstead deserve a thorough and serious discussion about how to address these questions from both Town Supervisor candidates. Sadly, the discussion so far has been decidedly one-sided.

Jon Kaiman is running a substantive, ideas-driven campaign. He has reminded voters of his track record of achievements by highlighting the keystone accomplishments from his prior terms as town supervisor: establishing Project Independence, creating the Town’s 311 Call Center, restoring wetlands, and removing pollution from our waterways and bays

And, he has clearly stated his plans for future actions that will build on those accomplishments, such as his proposed town-wide sustainability plan.

Taken together, these demonstrate that Jon is an accomplished public servant who has achieved tremendous successes before and has a clear vision for how to move the Town forward yet again.

By contrast, Jen DeSena has taken a far less substantive approach. Since August, the DeSena campaign has barraged our mailboxes and airwaves with round after round of ugly attack ads funded by unprecedented expenditures by the Nassau County GOP (that is, the people who employed the same tactics to bring  U.S. Congressman George Santos just last year).

These ads are filled with false and misleading claims, the most frequently repeated one being that Jon Kaiman enacted massive tax hikes during his 10 years as supervisor.

In truth, town taxes were remarkably stable under Jon Kaiman’s leadership. Five of the budgets he passed as supervisor included no tax increase, one decreased taxes, and four included nominal tax increases ranging from an average of $6 to $16 per household.

Perhaps worse, other ads in this deluge are clearly meant to amplify fears and appeal to prejudices. One example is an ad claiming “Crime is terrorizing our families —Blame Jon Kaiman.”

Not surprisingly, the ad doesn’t even try to explain how a person who has not held office in the Town since 2013 could possibly be to blame for current crime levels.

Another fact-free ad warns “Don’t let Jon Kaiman destroy our neighborhoods” and accuses him of trying to “ram through Bronx-style multi-family housing.”

Again, this is totally baseless, but we know exactly what sort of a dog whistle they’re sounding by using the term “Bronx-style.”

Such campaign ads are not meant to spark discussion about the crucial issues facing our communities; nor are they meant to inform voters. Instead, they are meant to distract voters from the incumbent’s paltry record while sowing confusion about the issues and suppressing turnout. It’s a technique that GOP strategist Steve Bannon gloatingly calls “flooding the zone with […],” and it is insulting to all of us.

Some will say “Eh, but that’s what all politicians do.” But that is not true. Many candidates run honest, substantive campaigns that critique their opponents’ records without scurrilous personal attacks or unnecessary viciousness.

In this race, only Jon Kaiman is upholding these standards. He is running an honorable campaign that respects voters and informs them of his qualifications for the office as well as his plans to make our town a better place.

He has certainly criticized his opponent, especially for her endorsement of George Santos, but these criticisms have been truthful and fair.

Jon Kaiman has made a powerful case that he is the right person to be our next Town Supervisor. Please join us in voting for him on Nov. 7, or during early voting from Oct. 28 through Nov. 5.

Kim and John Keiserman

Port Washington